Despite buyout rumors and speculation, veteran forward Kevin Love is reportedly expected to begin the 2025-26 NBA season with the Utah Jazz.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, “all signs point to” Love reporting to the Jazz next week for training camp following his acquisition in an offseason three-team trade that sent Norman Powell to the Miami Heat and John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Fischer added that in terms of a buyout, talks between Love and the Jazz are “unlikely to get serious” until a playoff contender with interest in him emerges at some point during the season.
Love perhaps became more expendable this week when the Jazz signed center Mo Bamba, but it appears both players may be on Utah’s roster for the regular-season opener against the Clippers on Oct. 22.
The 37-year-old love spent parts of the past three seasons after previous stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers.
A five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection and one-time rebounding champ, Love played a significant role in the first and only championship in Cavs history in 2016.
Starring alongside LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, Love helped the Cavaliers take down the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
For his career, Love has appeared in 952 regular-season games over 17 seasons, averaging 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 three-pointers made per contest, while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Love’s role diminished last season in Miami, as he appeared in only 23 games and set new career lows in minutes per game (10.9), points per game (5.3) and rebounds per game (4.1).
The Jazz are not expected to contend for a playoff spot this season, but even with Love taking a step back last season, it is likely a safe bet that a playoff contender will have interest in him at some point during the 2025-26 campaign.
Love is a 6’8″ big man willing to do the dirty work inside as a rebounder, while also being capable of stretching the floor and knocking down threes.
He also has a ton of experience in big-game situations, appearing in 88 career postseason games.
With younger bigs on the roster and in need of playing time, such as Walker Kessler and Kyle Filipowski, it is likely only a matter of time before Love and the Jazz reach an agreement, even if it doesn’t come before the start of the season.
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